Apple Set for Record 247M iPhone Shipments in 2025 Even as Rivals Close In
AppleAAPL is on track for a milestone year — but the real test is how long the momentum lasts. IDC expects iPhone shipments to reach 247.4M units in 2025, a jump that finally surpasses the peak set during the iPhone 13 cycle in 2021. The iPhone 17 lineup is powering the surge, with IDC’s Nabila Popal calling its performance a “phenomenal success” and crediting it for reigniting demand in China.
- China’s Q4 iPhone shipments are expected to leap 17% year-over-year, pushing IDC to revise its full-year China market forecast from a 1% decline to 3% growth.
- However, potential delays of the base iPhone 18 model until 2027 could break Apple’s traditional fall release cycle and trigger a 4.2% shipment drop next year.
Competition rising: Samsung’s $2.45K Galaxy Z TriFold lands Dec. 12 in South Korea before reaching the US in early 2026, signaling intensifying rivalry. Counterpoint’s Liz Lee says Samsung is using this multi-fold pilot “to reinforce its technology leadership” ahead of Apple’s expected entry. With Huawei and other Chinese players already pushing competitive trifolds, the smartphone battlefield is crowding fast.